Policy Briefs

Selonnes Policy Tidbits: | NEC’s setting up of State-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry on rights violations by Police, propitious, but belated


National Economic Council’s recent directive to establish of State-based Judicial Panels of Inquiry nationwide to investigate complaints of Police brutality or related extra-judicial killings is propitious, but a tad belated. It is a default policy option. For years human right bodies, analysts, and CSOs have cried out about egregious violations of human rights of Nigerians by security agents and campaigned for Proactive Policing. Their clamor was hardly heeded, instead there was a concerted effort to muzzle the CSOs via legislation.

The unenviable junction where the nation finds itself with the #EndSARS protests was avoidable. The present policies are reactionary, rather than proactive. Yet it will be imperative to offer Nigerian Youths, Students, and Civil Society Organizations the unfettered leeway to help shape the emergent security sector reform and governance policies, in the days and months ahead.

Oseloka Obaze, MD & CEO

Oseloka Obaze, MD & CEO

Mr. Obaze is the former Secretary to the State Government of Anambra State, Nigeria from 2012 to 2015 - MD & CEO, Oseloka H. Obaze. Mr. Obaze also served as a former United Nations official, from 1991-2012, and as a former member of the Nigerian Diplomatic Service, from 1982-1991.

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